Cuomo and Molinaro debate-gate rages on

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro, left, speaks at a news conference in New York in September; and Gov. Cuomo, right, speaks a news conference in upstate Tarrytown in May. (AP)

The gubernatorial debate-gate continues.

Gov. Cuomo has agreed to a debate with Republican challenger Marc Molinaro that would be broadcast on TV statewide, a campaign source said Sunday.

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The debate would be taped on Tuesday afternoon and broadcast on WCBS 880 and on WCBS Channel 2 on Tuesday night at 7 p.m., said the source. It would be offered to other CBS stations around the state.

Molinaro by late Sunday night had not publicly responded to the CBS offer. But the proposal was in line with a request Molinaro tweeted earlier in the evening: “I’d love NYers be able to listen, view & learn on CBS radio & @CBSNewYork. Can we make that happen?”

Earlier Sunday, Molinaro spurned a CBS proposal for a debate broadcast on the radio and on Facebook video. He slammed Cuomo for accepting that offer, saying it showed the governor refused to participate in a “real debate” that would “give an opportunity for all New Yorkers to participate.”

“This has now devolved into a sad statement for our state and democracy,” his statement added. “Stop the mockery and debate me in front of all voters. Stop hiding!”

Yesterday’s debate over a debate was a follow up to days of wrangling between the gubernatorial candidates.

Cuomo last week agreed to an Oct. 20 WCBS debate.

Molinaro rejected that proposal, calling it a “staged fraud” due to the lack of planning or television cameras. The timing would also offend Jewish voters who celebrate the Sabbath, he added.

Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced Sunday she would debate her Republican challenger Chele Farley on Thursday on WABC-TV. Gillibrand had earlier canceled a debate that was scheduled to run on Spectrum NY1 due to an ongoing IBEW strike against Spectrum.

“With this debate, we will be able to both stand in solidarity with the 1,800 members of IBEW who went on strike for fair pay and benefits and provide New Yorkers with the opportunity they deserve to hear from both candidates,” her spokesman, Glen Caplin, said in a statement.

Members of IBEW Local 3 have been on strike for 19 months. They contend the cable giant wants to get rid of retiree medical coverage and other health benefits for active staffers.